Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Joshua Heller looks at Masechet Chagigah Daf 13. The sages forbad study of Ma’aseh Merkavah- Ezekiel’s vision of the divine chariot. Why did he picture God surrounded by strange, 4-faced beasts? We’ll find answers from ancient archeology and later mysticism. But be careful, one person […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Joshua Heller looks at Masechet Chagigah Daf 12. Don’t listen to today’s podcast. It’s forbidden by Jewish law. If you must, make sure you do it alone, and not with another person, and you’ll learn about some of the basics of Jewish mysticism, what would […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Joshua Heller looks at Masechet Chagigah Daf 11. You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth! There are areas of knowledge that are too dangerous to be taught in public? I can understand why esoteric mystical knowledge might fall into that category, but why […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Joshua Heller looks at Masechet Chagigah Daf 10. Some laws are floating in the breeze, some are hanging by a thread! Are all Jewish observances based in Biblical law, or are some the product of rabbinic creativity? How do we feel about the answer to […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Danny Nevins looks at Masechet Chagigah Daf 9. Qohelet says that “the crooked cannot become straight,” which the Sages understand to mean that some mistakes cannot be repaired. For example, missing out on an entire holiday. And worse, an act of incest or adultery, or […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Danny Nevins looks at Masechet Chagigah Daf 8. Vegetarians be warned! The Sages say you can “be happy on your holiday” only when eating red meat, since that was the type of festive offering. Rav Ashi says this is obvious–only red meat satisfies. This leads […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Danny Nevins looks at Masechet Chagigah Daf 7. In tractate Peah we learn that some mitzvot have no fixed measure–any amount is good, and no amount is ever too much. One of those is the appearance offering, yet our Mishnah sets an amount. Rabbi Yohanan […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Danny Nevins looks at Masechet Chagigah Daf 6. Back in the Mishnah we heard of a debate between the schools of Shammai and Hillel on which class of festival sacrifice deserved priority–the burnt offering or the whole offering. In the Gemara we learn arguments to […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Danny Nevins looks at Masechet Chagigah Daf 5. Continuing the theme of weeping sages, we learn of Rabbi Yohanan’s sorrow that God holds Israel responsible even for minor mistakes, and not only for intentional crimes. For example, gross behavior like smashing a bug or spitting […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Danny Nevins looks at Masechet Chagigah Daf 4. Gender identity and roles are contentious topics in contemporary society, but we assume that the ancients had a simpler sense of male and female. Actually, it seems that they knew about various intersex genders, and debated the […]